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Having a wobble......

Posted , 7 users are following.

terri59470
terri59470

And you guys are the only ones who really know what its like.....

Quick summary (sorry if you all know it by heart....) March 2015 Right TKR, October 2015 Left TKR, 24th Feb 2017 Revision of Right TKR due to premature loosening

From the outset my surgeon had told me how difficult and painful the Revision procedure and recovery was going to be, and whilst I listened to him, I have to admit I didnt see how much more painful/difficult it could be compared to a Primary TKR (we all know how delightful THEY are!) 

WRONG!! I've been making good progreess, and my last measurements at Physio were 96 degrees bend and "beautifully straight" according to the therapist. My muscles remain weak, and I have little stamina but that will all improve in time, and with a lot of work. Accepted. 

What has really battered me over the past couple of days is the relentless pain. And frustration at the length of time I've been going through this damned process - over 2 years straight. Im still taking heaps of painkillers, which usually keep a lid on the pain enough for me to manage around the house and do my exercises several times a day, but today I've admitted defeat and crawled into bed for a few hours. 

Im constantly grumpy, in tears, and just want to shut the curtains, pull the duvet over my head, and stay there. Which isn't healthy, I know, but the usual mood-lifter of going out for a walk in the fresh air isnt possible.....

So Im sorry for bringing such a low vibe to the group, especially at Easter, but I know I am understood wothout question on here xx

sad

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 terri59470

    Posted

    Hi Terri, I just wrote a huge reply & everything disappeared!!! So I'll give you the abridged version! Lol

    I'm sorry you have been going through this for soooo long. What a nightmare that is! I'm not surprised you want to hide under the duvet, I think I would too!

    Can you get referred to a pain management clinic after the Easter holiday?

    You also sound depressed, I know what that feels like, I've been there, done that got the book, thrown away the tee shirt!

    If you don't want to go down the medication route, maybe try to just visualise yourself in the summer sun, no knee pain & walking properly! You WILL get there eventually.

    I had it relatively easy after TKR but can still remember crying & saying never, ever again!!

    Just remember you are YOU an awesome, wonderful human being!

    You are WOMAN, you will prevail!

    In the meantime eat lots of lovely Easter eggs.... mmmm chocolate! Sorry Homer moment!!

    Keep in touch

    Marilyn

    XX

    • terri59470
      terri59470 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Thank you Marilyn, your words mean a lot to me. They say that you have to hit rock bottom before you start to feel better - well I think yesterday may have been pretty much all the way down for me....Ive managed to have a pretty decent rest (wouldnt go as far as to say a good sleep, we know how elusive that is!), Hubby got up early and went out to buy me some strong Ibuprofen Gel which *Touch Wood* seems to be helping as I had some really nasty soft tissue pain (I was pretty hard on him yesterday so I feel especially thankful for him doing that). The sun is shining, and Ive managed to walk to the end of our Street and back (less than 150m but its more than I could have done yesterday...) I do keep wondering if I'm becoming depressed - I have a LOT of previous with depression so am alert to the signs - but I think/hope that its just reactive at the moment and that I can actively manage it. If not, then I've got a fabulous GP who I can really talk to about it. 

      Oh and I may have just accidentally eaten half a bag of Cadburys Mini Eggs......eekredface (DISCLAIMER - Other brands of chocolate eggs are available biggrin

      SO todays another day - and so far a much better one. I think I've just got to accept Im likely to have some tough times for a good while to come, and I need to roll with the punches and make the most of the good days. 

      Thanks again, and Happy Easter!

       

    • marilyn10235
      marilyn10235 terri59470

      Posted

      Oh Terri you did make me laugh with the mini eggs!

      So glad you're feeling a little better. You are so right when you hit rock bottom, the only way is UP!!

      I hope you get better luck with the Ibuprofen, it never, ever did anything for me! Not even the tablets! I used to use Voltarol which sort of helped!

      Keep your chin up & keep smiling, it's amazing how a few rays of sunlight make all the difference.

      Take care of yourself

      Marilyn

      XX

      Ps Yay!! managed to get all this down without my phone throwing a 'fit' & turning everything off!! I think the battery was a bit low, still why??? It didn't even recognise my password for this site!? 🤔

      Happy Easter 🐣

  • chris00938
    chris00938 terri59470

    Posted

    Terri, my heart goes out to you.  Yes, you are in the right place here.  I'm so so sorry you're having such a dreadful time!!!!  Thoughts are with you.

  • jean42930
    jean42930 terri59470

    Posted

    You have been through the Mill Terri. I cant even think how I would feel after 2 years. I know at the beginning I envisioned myself wheelchair bound and able to move around the house only using sticks. So I know how down days are horrible. Even after only 13 weeks I have been up and down so many times.  The pain makes it harder on the bad days. It is definately a psychological and physical journey. Enjoy the chocolate and duvet, tomorrow is another day. Take care.
  • june68495
    june68495 terri59470

    Posted

    So, sorry you are going through this!!

    Happy Easter and I'm glad you're having a better day!!

    I had my TKR 4 months ago, and it's been a slow go!

    Good days, horrible days!

    You're life seems to revolve around your knee ... if you're knee is happy, it's a good day!

    Prayers to you and I'm so happy that you have your. husband to help!

    The sunshine will help!!

  • ali95530
    ali95530 terri59470

    Posted

    Bless you Terri, I'm having a wobble too at the moment. 

    It's almost midnight and I've been to bed but got up as I just can't get comfortable. 

    I'm 11weeks post TKR and thought things were improving but the last couple of days my knee is extreamly hot and swollen again. I'm beginning to wonder if it'll ever be anywhere near the same size as the other and still wish I'd not had it done.

    Big hugs to you, and enjoy your cadburys mini eggs ... Tesco have all their Easter eggs now reduced 😊👍

    • marilyn10235
      marilyn10235 ali95530

      Posted

      Oh Ali you are going through it too. I think we all ask ourselves why oh why did we do it?? Put ourselves through this! But it does get better.

      You will find there is light at the end of the tunnel!

      Why is your knee swollen & hot? Have you been overdoing it at all? Either exercise or on your feet too long? Increase the icing, but if you feel under the weather at all with it, get in to see your GP. Esp if it's suddenly started to swell again.

      I hope things start improving soon.

      And remember, chocolate isn't just for Easter it's for life!

      Take care

      Marilyn

      XX

    • ali95530
      ali95530 marilyn10235

      Posted

      lol I love that we've all taken to chocolate and cake to make us feel better.

      I'm going to just drop in at my hospital physio this morning to see what he says and also see if he'll measure my all important ROM. Omg all I seem to talk about to anyone who is prepared to listen is my ROM ... It's taken over my life.

      I don't think I'm overdoing it but I haven't iced it lately so will start doing so again. Taken ibuprofen again lately which I haven't been doing after reading so much about how problematic it is.

      I'm quite petite so maybe I'm asking too much to have matching knees 🙁

      Big hugs xx

    • chris00938
      chris00938 ali95530

      Posted

      Ali, we've certainly all been there with telling people about our ROM LOL!  I wish you could have seen my physio's face when he asked me how I knew what my ROM was and I told him I'd bought a goniometer LOL!  I'm guessing that most don't.  I felt obliged to tell everyone and anyone how many weeks post op I was up until about 5 weeks, so they could tell me how well I was doing LOL!  I'm not too worried about having two matching knees, but two functional knees is my aim LOL!

    • ali95530
      ali95530 chris00938

      Posted

      Just had my ROM measured by physio and it's 140 ... So happy I'll be talking about it for days ... weeks even lol

      Said heat and swelling quite normal and could both last for up to 12 months ... looks like I'll have to fall in love with my elephant knee 😂

    • chris00938
      chris00938 ali95530

      Posted

      Oh WOW!!!!!   And how many weeks post op are you?  I hadn't even dreamed of getting to 140 LOL!  Yes, the blurb from the hospital said swelling is up to a year and I expected that to be full leg but it's only my knee and even that's going down gradually - sooner than I expected really.  But that 140 is VERY impressive!  You're an inspiration!:-))))

    • chris00938
      chris00938 ali95530

      Posted

      I can't imagine doing that within the next four weeks.  It's SO impressive!  Well done:-))))

    • ali95530
      ali95530 chris00938

      Posted

      I didn't think I would either but in the last 3 weeks it's happened ... with a lot of pushing myself but not to the point of tears but, just to the point of feeling a pull. 

      I'm just 58 and apparently very flexible so my physio said 😂💃

    • chris00938
      chris00938 ali95530

      Posted

      Ahah - so you may have hyperflexibility too!  I have, so maybe if I just carry on the way I'm going I might reach closer to that in time:-))))  If I push it too far I get the cramping/pinching feeling behind the knee where the physio said to ease off for a couple of weeks, so with me, it's gently, gently.  I must admit the 130 has been fairly easy to get to.  Sometimes it drops down to 128 but it's thereabouts.  I'm 67 but if you're very flexible that stays with you.

    • marilyn10235
      marilyn10235 ali95530

      Posted

      Ahh so glad for you Ali on getting to 140 yay!!

      I'm sure your leg will return to normal in time.

      Right now it's celebration time!! (Oh not chocolate again!!)

      Marilyn

      XX

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